Machine for marking identification marks on billets, blooms and slags

ABSTRACT

The machine for applying an identification mark on a billet comprises a marking roll carrying the impressions for making the identification marks, said roll being rotatably mounted on a swivel block, said swivel block being carried at the end of a vertical pre-loaded spindle, said spindle capable of deflecting if load is excessive thus relieving the machine from overload, said swivel block having a balancing system so that if the billet at its marking end has a camber then the swivel block with the marking roll will adjust itself to align with the inclined surface of the billet at the marking end so that the marking roll is able to uniformly apply the identification mark on the billet. The said marking roll rotates due to friction as it contacts the advancing billets and thus the mark is made on the successive billets as they advance.

United States Paten [191 Singhal MACHINE FOR MARKING IDENTIFICATIONMARKS ON BILLETS,

BLOOMS AND SLAGS [76] Inventor: Dinesh Chandra Singhal, 5, North CiruitHouse Area, Bihar, India [22] Filed: June 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 367,247

[52] US. Cl 72/197, 72/250, 101/5 [51] Int. Cl B21b 45/00 [58] Field ofSearch 72/190, 197, 250; 101/5, 10'1/6, 36

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 110,623 1/1871 Bement 101/52,351,519 6/1944 Jonsson 101/5 2,471,452 5/1949 Rosen 10l/36 2,497,3862/1950 Zarobsky 101/5 2,580,574 l/l952 Miller 101/5 [451 Dec. 10, 1974Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane,Swecker & Mathis [5 7] ABSTRACT The machine for applying anidentification mark on a billet comprises a marking roll carrying theimpressions for making the identification marks, said roll beingrotatably mounted on a swivel block, said swivel block being carried atthe end of a vertical pre-loaded spindle, said spindle capable ofdeflecting if load is excessive thus relieving the machine fromoverload, said swivel block having a balancing system so that if thebillet at its marking end has acamber then the swivel block with themarking roll will adjust itself to align with the inclined surface ofthe billet at the marking end so that the marking roll is able touniformly apply the identification mark on the billet. The said markingroll rotates due to friction as it contacts the advancing billets andthus the mark is made on the successive billets as they advance.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures P I EI] um: 10 m4 3.852.888

- sax-:21 1 or 4 Fig PATENTED DEC 10 I974 SHEEI 2 [IF -4 PATENTEDUEB 10m4 SHEET 30F 4 BEL-.4.

MACHINE FOR MARKING IDENTIFICATION MARKS ON BILLETS, BLOOMS AND SLAGSOBJECT It is necessary to have an identification mark on each billet,bloom or slab as it leaves a continuous casting plant or rolling mill inorder to identify at a later date its chemical composition physicalproperties and history of manufacture.

GENERAL REMARKS This description, although written from the point ofview of marking on red hot steel billet in continuous billet mills andcontinuous casting plants, covers the marking of billets, blooms orslabs of steel or other metal using the machine described below.

PRIOR ART Several methods are hitherto known for marking the billetssuch as fixing a tag, painting or stamping. Fastening of a tag has theobvious disadvantage of its possibility of getting detached whereasmarking by paint or chalk is likely to peel off or fade away. Stamping,however, enable a permanent mark on the material. Besides manualmethods, stamping has also been effected by pneumatically operatedimpact-marking guns or other impacting devices. In this case each billetis stopped and the mark is applied by the gun or the impacting device.Reference is made-for example to the following publications:

l.Shah, R Improved methods expedite slab and strip marking Iron AgeMetalworking International, April l969 2. Speicher, F. S. Markingsystems for continuous casting lines" Iron and Steel Engineer, No-

vember l969.

3. Heddaeus, W. W. Copperweld Steels Continuous Casting line UtilisesAutomated Marking Iron and Steel Engineer, October, 1967.

The known stamping means are time consuming, and require expensivemachinery and human effort for marking each billet.

The invention will hereinafter be described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which: I

FIG. 1 shows the schematic layout of the machine according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows the details of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the schematic layout of another embodiment with differentmeans for adjusting the position of the main spindle and the swivelblock;

FIG. 4 shows the details of the machine shown in I FIG. 3;

PRINCIPLE or OPERATION For convenience in understanding the invention,it will be described hereinbelow with reference to a continuousbilletrolling mill. Reference is first made to FIGS. 8 and 9. As in theknown practice, the billets 3 are delivered in the direction of arrow Aon to a roller table 1, having a stopper 2. The billets are then pushedfrom the table 1 by a pusher 6which is actuated by ropes 5 and ropedrums 4 driven by motor 8, the ropes 5 passing over pulleys 7, 9 showsthe gear box.

When the pusher 6 is moved, it pushes the billets 3 which are lined upside-by-side in front of it on to the cooling bed 10 made of skids.After pushing the billets the motor is reversed to return the pusher 6for next operation. The pusher is moved in direction B or C. Thisarrangement is well known. It can be seen in FIG. 8 that a portion x ofthe billets 3 overhangs the cooling bed 10. The marking will be donewhen the billets are moved in the direction B.

The marking roll M is arranged in the over-hanging region x" to clearthe moving pusher 6. The gap set for the billets 3 under the markingroll is slightly less than the thickness of billets. As the billets 3are moved by the pusher 6, the movement of billets itself causes theroll M to rotate due to friction and impress the identification marks onto the moving billets. As an example the roll M will mark theidentification mark G39370 on all the billets passing therebelow (FIG.7). The impressions on the marking roll are so made that the distance p(FIG. 9) between two successive marks of G39370 on the rolls is lessthan the minimum width w (FIG. 9) of the billet to enable at least oneclear impression ofG39370 on the billet of minimum width.

DESCRIPTION OF MACHINE Now reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2. Themarking device comprises an externally threaded main screw 14 having aninternal bore in which a main spindle 15 is held. The screw 14 is heldin vertical position by the upper guide 16 extending from a frame 17 ofthe machine. The guide 16 has a key to permit axial but non-rotarymovement of the main screw 14. Above the guide 16 is a top wheel nut 18in threaded engagement with the screw 14 and below the guide 16 is alower wheel nut 19 also in threaded engagement with the screw 14. Thespindle 15 passes through a lower guide 20 extending from the frame 17.The guide 20 has a key to permit axial but non-rotary movement of thespindle 15. Between the shoulder ofthe main spindle 15 for the guide 20and the screw 14 is disposed a main loading spring 21 which can bepre-loaded by nuts 24. The spindle 15 carries by means of swivel pin 23a swivel head 22 in which the marking roll M is rotatably mounted on apin 55. The marking roll M rotates about pin 55 due to friction when itcontacts the moving billets. Below the marking roll M is a support rollS which also rotates due to friction on contact with the moving billets.

i The over hanging portion x of billets 3, as these are pushed by thepusher 6, moves in the gap between the rolls M and S. This gap should beadjusted depending upon the height of the billets 3 and such that thegap is slightly less than the height of the billet 3. In practice it hasbeen found that better impressions are made by theroll M if the gap is 3to 5 mm less than the height of the billet.

The adjustment of the gap to suit various billet thicknesses is achievedby rotating wheel nuts 18 and 19. The force of the impression of themarks is afforded by the spring 21, which permits the marking roll todeflect upwards in case of overload. The tension of the spring 21 can beset by the lock nuts 24.

The purpose of arranging roll M on a swivel head instead of in a fixedmanner shall be described herein in detail. It has been found that theends of the billets 3 on the side of the roll M (FIGS. 7 and 8) may beslightly inclined or cambered in either direction 4 or i 4 (FIG. 2). Ifthe roll M is held rigid, then some portion of the mark is notimpressed. In order to apply the com- I plete mark uniformly, the roll Mis mounted on a swivel head so that the roll M will also incline in thedirection i i or i 4 thereby causing a uniform and positive impress'ionon the billet end.

For the swivelling arrangement reference is made to FIGS. 5 and 6 whichshow the balancing system for the swivel block. In FIG. 5, the pin 23,spindle and the swivel head 22 which swivels on pin 23 are shown. The

- head 22 is connected to a swivel spindle 63 by means of a clevis 60and bolts 61 and 62. The spindle 63 is loosely engaged by a bore in asupport block 64 which is rigidly connected to the main spindle 15. Twosprings 65, one above the block 64 and another below the block 64 arearranged. The tension of the springs can be set by lock nuts 66.

When the billet end has a camber i.e. has an inclined surface, the head22 also tends to incline in the same direction when the billet is pushedbetween rolls M and S. This will cause swinging of the clevis 60 whichin turn causes an axial movement of the spindle 63. This axial movementcauses compression on one spring 65 and reliefof the other spring 65.These two springs consequently tend to return to their original positionthus keeping the head 22 in a balanced position before the billets arepassed.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7. The marking roll M consists of a numberof circular discs 50, each disc bodiment the axial position of the mainscrew 14 and carrying a number of impressions for a specified mark.

The circular distance p (FIG. 9) between impressions on each disc isless than the width w (FIG. 9) of the minimum billet size to be markedso that at least one clear impression will be made when marking theproduct of minimum width. The discs 50 are arranged side by side to makeup a desired mark say 639370 and are held on a disc holder 51 by meansof bolts 52. This assembly of discs 50 and holder 51 is mounted in theswivel head 22 by a pin 55 which passes through the central bore 54 inthe disc holder 51. Since each disc has a specified mark, say 3", cut atcircular spacing p" on its circumference and the assembled marking rollis so arranged that the desired mark say G39370 is spaced at distance p"on the roll circumference, the impression G39370 on the billet surfacewill be repeated at spacing p" (FIG. 9) as the marking roll rolls,without slipping over the billet surface. Note that since spacing p isless than the minimum billet width w,

' wider billets may have more than one impression of DEVELOPMENTSReference is made to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The deviceaccording to this embodiment is similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 and2 in respect of the provisions of the main screw, main spindle,

hence the position of the roll M is adjusted by wheel nuts, the gapbetween the rolls M and S being manually measured by scale and calipersor templates while setting the machine to mark a given billet size,whereas in the new embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the position ofroll M is adjusted by a worm and wormwheel operated screw down-system,the roll gap is automatically being measured and indicated on a roll gapindicator.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is provided a worm wheeland main worm 31. The worm 31 is mounted on the spindle 32 of a handwheel 33 so as to rotate therewith. Worm 31 meshes with wheel 30 whichhas internal threads engaging with the external threads of the mainscrew 14. Thus, when thehand wheel 33 is rotated the main worm wheel 31also rotates, thereby raising or lowering the main screw 14 which isprevented from rotating. The raising or lowering of the main screwvaries the roll gap as in the case of embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The roll-gap in the new embodiment is automatically measured by a rollgap indicator (FIG. 4). The spindle 32 is connected to an auxiliaryspindle 35 through intermediate gears 36 and 37. The spindle 35 carriesa dial worm 38 which meshes with dial worm wheel 39 mounted on a dialspindle 40 carrying a pointer 41. The pointer 41 rotates against 'acalibrated dial 42. Thus the rotation of the hand wheel 33 raisesor'lowers the roll M and at the same time indicates on the dial 42 theextent to which the roll M has been raised or lowered. In other-words,the dial 42 is calibrated to directly indicate the gap between the rollM and roll S for the passage of the billets.

4 can be more advantageously arranged by the side ofthe cooling bed 10as shown in FIG. 8. It should however be noted that the support roll Scan be dispensed with so that the cooling bed itself serves as thesupport for the billets as they pass below the roll M. It should also benoted that the roll M need not be necessarily arranged above the topsurface of the billet 3 and that the same can be arranged below bottomsurface of the billets so that the indentification mark is pressed onthe bottom face of the billet. It should further be noted that themarking according to the present invention need not be carried out onlyin the region of the cooling bed 10, but at any location on the millwhere the billets are caused to move in a direction transverse to theirlength.

What I claim is:

l. A marking machine for stamping identification mark on a billet, bloomor slab as the billet, bloom or slab advances across a cooling bed, saidmachine comprising a pre-loaded main vertical spindle, a marking rollrotatably mounted in a swivel head, a swivel pin connecting said swivelhead to said vertical spindle, a clevis connected to said head, avertical swivel bolt mounted at its lower end in said clevis, a blockrigidly connected to said main vertical spindle, said swivel boltpassing freely through said block, an upper tension spring and a lowertension spring around said swivel bolt on either side of the said blockso that when the said swivel head is inclined in one direction due tocontact of the marking roll with the inclined surface of the billet tobe marked, then one of the said springs is compressed while the otherspring is correspondingly relieved thereby enabling the swivel head toincline itself to cause the marking roll to have uniform contact withthe billet to be marked.

2. A marking machine as claimed in claim 1 in which within the saidblock is fitted a fixed sleeve through which said swivel bolt freelypasses and the upper tension spring around the swivel bolt is heldbetween said sleeve and a nut on the said swivel bolt while the lowertension spring is held between said sleeve and said clevis, and the saidsleeve is externally threaded and by means of worm and worm wheelarrangement, the initial inclination of the swivel head and consequentlythe marking roll is adjusted to reduce the excessive drag of the markingroll on the inclined surface.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 including a frame, an externallythreaded main screw slidably arranged within guides extending from saidframe, means cooperating with the threads of said screw in order toeffect selective variation of the axial disposition of the said screw,said screw having an axial bore in which the said main spindle isslidably but not rotatably arranged, means for lateral movement of saidmain screw comprising worm and worm wheel arrangement, said means alsooperating a dial carrying a pointer for measuring and indicating theposition of the said main screw.

1. A marking machine for stamping identification mark on a billet, bloomor slab as the billet, bloom or slab advances across a cooling bed, saidmachine comprising a pre-loaded main vertical spindle, a marking rollrotatably mounted in a swivel head, a swivel pin connecting said swivelhead to said vertical spindle, a clevis connected to said head, avertical swivel bolt mounted at its lower end in said clevis, a blockrigidly connected to said main vertical spindle, said swivel boltpassing freely through said block, an upper tension spring and a lowertension spring around said swivel bolt on either side of the said blockso that when the said swivel head is inclined in one direction due tocontact of the marking roll with the inclined surface of the billet tobe marked, then one of the said springs is compressed while the otherspring is correspondingly relieved thereby enabling the swivel head toincline itself to cause the marking roll to have uniform contact withthe billet to be marked.
 2. A marking machine as claimed in claim 1 inwhich within the said block is fitted a fixed sleeve through which saidswivel bolt freely passes and the upper tension spring around the swivelbolt is held between said sleeve and a nut on the said swivel bolt whilethe lower tension spring is held between said sleeve and said clevis,and the said sleeve is externally threaded and by means of worm and wormwheel arrangement, the initial inclination of the swivel head andconsequently the marking roll is adjusted to reduce the excessive dragof the marking roll on the inclined surface.
 3. A machine as claimed inclaim 2 including a frame, an externally threaded main screw slidablyarranged within guides extending from said frame, means co-operatingwith the threads of said screw in order to effect selective variation ofthe axial disposition of the said screw, said screw having an axial borein which the said main spindle is slidably but not roTatably arranged,means for lateral movement of said main screw comprising worm and wormwheel arrangement, said means also operating a dial carrying a pointerfor measuring and indicating the position of the said main screw.